Method of and apparatus for feeding tobacco to cigar machines



May 5, 1925.

A. A. HEYMAN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TOBACCO T0 CIGAR MACHINES Filgd 4mg 9, 1922 a Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 5, 1925,

' A. A. HEYMAN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FIOR FEEDING TOBACCO TO CIGAR MACHINES Filed Aug, 9, 1922 JJZZZ/y K I gnumwfoz May 5, 1925. 1,536,216

A. A. HEYM'AN v METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TOBACCO T0 CIGAR MACHINES Filgq Aug 9, 1922, 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 L I I Patented May 5, 1925.

- 1 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ALBERT A. HEYMAN, or BALTIMORE, maayrlenn assrenon 'ro TIE-IE UNIvnnsAL CIGAR MACHINERY 00., INC., on BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TOBACCO TD CIGAR MACHINES.

Application filed August 9, 1922. 7 Serial No. 580,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LAnnnnr A. HEYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Method of and Apparatus for Feeding Tobacco to Cigar Machines, of which the following is a specification. a r p This invention relates to a new and improved method of feeding tobacco to cigar machines, or cigar'lmnch making machines and also, to apparatus for feeding the to bacco. vi Heretofore inthe manufacture of cigars by machine the tobacco has been assembled and cut into bunchesof uniform width, length and thickness and, in order to produce a cigar having tapered ends, it has been the practice to use V shaped knives or like means for cutting away portions of the bunches at the ends so that, when each bunch is rolled and wrapped, the ends will be tapered. This method of producing the tapered ends of the cigars has been objectionable because it results in the formation of a Hwaste product consisting of the cuttings. This product is ordinarily fed back to the in layers prior tobeing cut into bunches, the

layers being positioned in a novel manner relative to each other whereby less tobacco will be at the ends than at the other portions of the formed bunches, with the result that when the bunches are shaped, the resultant cigars will be tapered at their ends.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain steps 1n the method and certain novel de tails of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully vdescribed and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsthe preferred form of the apparatus has been shown. i

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a portionof a cigar making machine having a feeder combined therewith, and showing the method of arranging the layers of tobacco before being formed into bunches.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Fig ure 1. p I

Figure 3 is a longitudinalsection through the stacked layers of tobacco shown in Figure 1.

. Figure fl is form of stacln Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified a section online 5 5, Fig' ure 4.

Figure 6 1s a section on line 6--6, Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a plan Viewof another modified form of stack.

Figure 8 is a section, on line 88, Fig ure 7. y

Figure 9 is a section on line 99, Figure 7.

v Figure 10 is a plan View of stack. I

Figure 11 is a section Figure 10.

Figure 12 Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a plan cut'to a stacked p c t Figure 14: shows a layer of another shape. Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a feeding belt for conveying tobacco into the cigar machine, this belt being driven by any suitable means, not shown, and working under one or more wheels 2 capable of up and down movement, these wheels being mounted on the same axis 3 which, in turn, is connected by of another form on line v11,1 1,

is a scctionon line 12 12,

view, showing a layer partlcular shape prior to being i a link 4 to a lever 5 fulcrumedas at 6. The

lever has an index or pointer 7 at its free end which cooperates with a graduated plate 8 to indicate the rise and fall of the wheels 2 relative to the belt. Thus the thickness of material fed under the wheels by the belt can be determined readily at all times and it becomes possible for the operator to maintain the. material at a substantially uniform thickness.

In the present instancethe cigar machine is provided with a special feeding mecha nism of'the same general type as that shown, for example, in my pending application No. 555,912. This mechanism includes an endless belt 9 on which the operator amanges the tobacco leaves in a single layer. This layer is carried by the belt under a roll 10 after which it is directed onto a transfer member 11. In the machine shown this member is in the form of a plate having numerous apertures 12 in which are mounted pins 13. These pins are connected to a movable head adapted to be shifted in properly timed relation with the movement of other parts of the mechanism, so as to project the pins above the plate 11. The member 11 is pivotally mounted at 14 and cooperates with a top member 15 mounted to swing about the axis of the roller 10. Apertures 16 are formedzin the member 15 to receive the pins 13. The operation of the machine issuch that after the layer of tobacco leaves has been directed onto the member 11 the top member 15 will. descend and clamp the layer. The pins 13 will then be ejected into the apertures 16 so as to perforate the tobacco. Thereafter the member 15 is swung to the position shown in Figure 2 and the member 11 is swung to position over the belt l'with the pins extending downwardly. During the initial portion of the movement of the member 11 the tobacco is cut or broken off upon aknife 17 that has been brought to active position by suitable mechanism. When the member arrives above the belt 1 the pins 13 are withdrawn from the layer of tobacco which will thus be deposited upon the belt. The member 11 then returns to the position shown in Figure 2 where it will receive another layer of tobacco.

The mechanism herein described does not, in itself, constitute any part of the present invention but merely, provides a means whereby the method of forming the stack can be effected. For this reason it is not deemed necessary to described the mechanism in detail. It is to be understood that it is desirable for the transfer member 11'. to work about an axis obliquely disposed'relative to the line of movement of the belt 1. This will result in each layer of tobacco, indicated at T, being deposited obliquely upon the belt. As the belt 1 is moved forward after each layer has been deposited, it will be apparent that the layers will be arranged in lapped relation, the rear edge of each layer resting on the belt while the frontor advancing edge is mounted above the previously deposited layers. Furthermore, as the layers are obliquely disposed the longitudinal edges of the layers will be out of vertical alinement, the edges of the layers at one side of the stack of tobacco: being stepped upwardly while the opposite edges of the layers overhang. Thus it will beapparent that when the stack of tobacco is cut'transversely the ends of the resultant bunches will be both obliquely disposed and be eled or substantially beveled. As there is less bulk of tobacco at the ends of the bunches when produced in this manner, it will be obvious that whena bunch is' rolled taper will be produced at the ends thereof. It becomes unnecessary, therefore, to cut the ends of the bunches in order to produce the tapered ends and, consequently, there are no cuttings produced. Instead, all of the tobacco is used in making cigars with long tillers.

While a particular means has been dcscribed and shown for depositing the layers of tobacco on the belt in the peculiar arrangement disclosed, it is to be understood that various other means may be employed for this purpose if found efficient. For example the transfer head could be moved to and fro; or the receiving belt could be moved sidewise to and fro, thus to get a StillflfSPCllil-SSllOWll in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Another method would be a variable feed starting with a narrow strip and gradually wideningand then repeating this operation toget a stack such as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. By combining a variable feed with a movable transfer head or belt a stack such as shown in Figures 10, 11 and'12 would be obtained.

Another method would he to cut withserrated or angular knives before transferring and then lay same on feed belt either. at right angles or -obliquely,ras shownin Figures 18 and 1%. I

lVhat is c-l'ain'led is':

1. The herein described step in the method of forming cigar bunches which consists in arranging in'a stack, flat superposed layers of uniform area, each-consisting of a plurality of leaves said layers being stepped longr tu'din'ally and transversely relative to each other.

2;: The herein described step in the method of making" cigars which consists infeedinjzf into a eigarmaking machine a stack'of superposed levers of tobacco, each layer being obliqu'cly disposed relative to its'line of travel, the. correspondine.edges of the layers liming out. of 'aliuement;

3. .The. herein described step in the method of'mahinrg cigars which consists in depositing on a novable support, flat layers of tobacco,- said layers beinn iof uni form area and eaclrconsisting of a: plurality of leaves said layers being superposed andv arranged in transversely stepped 1 relation.

4:. The herein described step in the method of making); cigars which consists in depositing on a longitiulinally' movable siu'mort. flat layers of tobacco substantially uniform in area, each consisting of a plurality of leaves, said layers being disposed in lapped relation to form a continuous unbroken stack.

5. The herein described step in the method of making cigars which consists in depositing on a longitudinally movable support, flat layers of tobacco substantially uniform in area, each consisting of a plurality of leaves, said layers being disposed in lapped relation to form a continuous unbroken stack of less bulk at the sides than at the center.

(3. The herein described step in the method of making cigars Which consists in depositing on a movable support, flat layers of to-' bacco substantially uniform in area, each consisting of a plurality of leaves, said layers being disposed in lapped relation to form a continuous unbroken stack, said. layers being offset laterally relative to each other.

7. The herein described step in the method of making cigars Which consists in depositing on a movable support, layers of tobacco in lapped relation to form a continuous unbroken stack, said layers being offset lateral ly relative to each other and obliquely disposed relative to the direction of movement of the support.

8. The herein described step in the method of making cigars which consists in feeding to a cigar makingmachine a continuous unbroken stack formed of flat layers of tobacco, said layers being substantially uniform in area and comprising a plurality of leaves, the corresponding edges of the layers being out of alinement. v

9. The herein described method of making cigars which includes arranging the tobacco leaves to form a layer, severing the layer into lengths, depositing said lengths successively on a movably mounted support thereby to form a stack the layers of which are lapped in the direction of movement of the support. the corresponding edges of the layers being out of alinement.

10. In a cigar or bunch making machine a belt for receiving spread tobacco leaves to form a continuous layer, a feeding belt, means for dividing said layer into desired lengths, and means for successively transferring said lengths to the feeding belt and depositing them thereon in lapped relation with their corresponding edges out of alinement.

11. In a cigar making machine a belt for receiving tobacco leaves to form a continuous layer, a feeding belt, means for dividing said layer into lengths, and means for trans 1 ferring the lengths successively and deposit ing them in superposed relation on the feeding belt obliquely to the direction of movement of said belt.

12. In a cigar making machine a belt for receiving tobacco to form a layer, afeeding belt, means for dividing said layer into lengths, means for successively transferring said lengths to the feeding belt to form a continuous stack of lapping layers. an inclicator, and movable means supported by the stack for shifting the indicator.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two Witness. 1

M. HoLLINeswoRrH, DAVID S. HYNns. 

